Canton Fair Set to Benefit from streamlined Customs Procedures
Guangzhou, China – Guangzhou Customs has announced a series of measures designed to expedite the entry and exit of goods, personnel, and materials related to the 138th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), opening this Wednesday. The initiatives aim to simplify procedures and enhance efficiency for participants in China’s largest trade event.
according to Tan wu,Deputy Director of Guangzhou Customs,the updated processes will considerably ease participation for both domestic and international businesses. A key feature is a centralized online platform allowing foreign exhibitors to manage all customs clearance needs for their displays and related business materials.
“We’ve implemented a one-stop service to facilitate customs procedures for overseas participants and ensure they benefit from available tax incentives on imported exhibits,” Tan explained at a press conference Saturday.
The Canton Fair, running through November 4th in three phases, is widely considered a crucial indicator of both China’s and global trade health, given China’s considerable role in worldwide commerce. Beyond facilitating trade, the event is expected to boost guangzhou’s economy through increased exhibition activity and local consumer spending.
Guangzhou Customs is also focusing on supporting the city’s development as an international consumption hub. Improvements to departure tax refund processes for overseas attendees – including dedicated counters, enhanced signage, expanded verification areas, and integration with the state Taxation Management’s digital system – have already yielded a 90% increase in processing efficiency.
Data reveals a notable surge in departure tax refund activity, with over 20,000 cases processed in the frist nine months of the year, totaling over 300 million yuan – a 150% year-on-year increase.
While the fair prominently features exports from Chinese companies, it also includes a dedicated import exhibition hall spanning over 10,000 square meters.As of Friday, 72 shipments of foreign exhibits, valued at approximately 3.96 million yuan, had arrived via air and sea through ports like Nansha, Jiaoxin Terminal, and Baiyun International Airport, originating from 13 countries and regions including Egypt, Thailand, and Japan.
Sun Aihua, Deputy Director of Guangzhou Customs’ Supervision Division, anticipates further arrivals of international exhibits in the lead-up to the fair’s opening.